Parent Program

The Seasons for Growth Parent program provides an opportunity for parents to better understand the experience of death, separation and divorce from a child’s perspective, and support their children’s transition through family change.

How does the Seasons for Growth Parent Program work?

The Seasons for Growth Parent Program assists parents and carers to understand the experience of death or separation and divorce from a child’s perspective, and to explore ideas and strategies they may consider as they support their children to transition through family change and loss.

The program offers a distinctive child-centred approach providing a non-judgmental environment for parents to reflect, discuss and learn how to care for and nurture their children after separation, divorce or the death of someone they love.

What are the learning outcomes for adults?

The program offers a range of activities that allow parents and carers to learn about:

  • how children react to change and loss
  • what parents can do to help their child
  • communicating with their child
  • understanding and managing, change loss and grief
  • caring for themselves as a parent and a person

How do I train to deliver the program?

Companions trained in the program are often professionals such as teachers, social workers, counsellors, psychologists, mental health workers, chaplains or those working in pastoral care.

Companions are required to complete the Seasons for Growth Children and Young People’s program training workshop before undertaking the additional five hours of training for the Seasons for Growth Parent program. The training involves: engaging with the evidence and theoretical foundations underpinning the program; and exploring the program content via an ‘inside out’ approach that immerses Companions in the key learning outcomes and activities for each of the sessions.

Trained Companions are supported with a comprehensive set of materials including manuals and participant journals and access to an online portal which offers a wide range of additional resources, networking opportunities and support.

How is the Seasons for Growth Parent Program delivered?

Trained facilitators known as "Companions" deliver the parent sessions for groups of 10-12 adult parents/carers. The program offers a supportive space for parents to learn and practice skills and strategies to help their children when responding to change and loss that has occurred in their lives.

The Seasons for Growth Parent program consists of two components delivered to groups of 10-12 participants:

  • Supporting your child following separation and divorce:

    • 2 sessions (2 hours) or 1 session (4 hours)

  • Supporting your child following the death of someone they love

    • 1 session (2.5 hours)

What are the steps to implement Seasons for Growth?

To facilitate the Seasons for Growth Parent program, you must first attend training in our Seasons for Growth Children and Young People's program and then the Parent program. The following steps provide a guide to implementing the program in your community. Our team will support you along your Seasons for Growth journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I train to facilitate the Seasons for Growth Parent program?

To facilitate the Parent program in your community you will need to undertake online training in the Seasons for Growth Children and Young People's program (ten hours) and the Seasons for Growth Parent program (5 hours).  Please view our training page or contact us if you would like to arrange onsite group training for your school or organisation. Find out more information here.
 

Following completion of training, am I ready to deliver the program?

Yes. When completing the training workshop, facilitators will be provided with an instructional manual and a set of journals that will support the delivery of the program. Prior to commencing a group, Companions will need to ensure they have the journals for the small group participants. The journals are available on our resources page.
 

What support is offered following the program training?

As a trained Companion, you are supported with a comprehensive set of materials including manuals and participant journals and access to an online portal, implementation planning, communities of practice and professional development.  All Companions are encouraged to seek formal program accreditation which requires them to not only train but also to implement the program, attend a supplementary learning session and submit participant and self-evaluations.

Does MacKillop Seasons offer ongoing learning and supplementary materials?

Working in close partnership with Professor Anne Graham AO, from the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University, additional resources have been developed to support communities.  Please visit the resources page of the website to access these flyers, tip sheets and videos.

What is the research evidence that underpins the programs?

The MacKillop Seasons programs have supported more than 400,000 children, young people and adults in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales.  An extensive evidence base for the efficacy of the programs has been established through high-quality research, evaluations, practitioner generated evidence and participant feedback throughout the history of the programs. Find out more information here.
 

I would like to participate in a small group program, how do I find a program near me?

MacKillop Seasons provides the training required for Companions to deliver our programs. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide details of where and when these groups are held, and we encourage you to enquire at your local community organisation, such as Centacare, Catholic Care or Interrelate. 

Stories and Outcomes

All Stories and Outcomes

Adapting Seasons for Growth for children with intellectual disability

Adapting Seasons for Growth for children with intellectual disability

Hunter River Community School has recently completed its pilot program of Seasons for Growth with an initial group of four students.

Read more

Change after domestic violence

Change after domestic violence

Meet Katy, 11, who started school with her family in Sydney.

Read more

Seasons supporting refugee children

Seasons supporting refugee children

Amira and Deb have built a strong relationship thanks to the Seasons for Growth program.

Read more

This program is great to help parents realise that children are passing through the seasons of grief at similar or even later times.

Participant

Our People

Meet our people

Jeanie McDonnell

Jeanie McDonnell

Program Coordinator

Fiona Hart

Fiona Hart

Master Trainer

Godelieve Hofman-Verkuyl

Godelieve Hofman-Verkuyl

Disaster Recovery Lead

Get in touch with us to find out more

Jeanie McDonnell

Jeanie McDonnell

Program Coordinator

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